John Wallace receives DSM reward

Dr John Wallace, of Aberdeen's Rowett Research
Institute, has been awarded the DSM Nutrition Award for
2007.

Wallace was recognised for pioneering new types of animal feed. The feed
promises an alternative to antibiotics which promoted growth but are now
banned.

His research career has focused on the workings of the stomachs
of farm animals, where billions of bugs aid digestion.

Dr Wallace said:
"Initially my research looked at how feed additives such as yeast worked, and I
was also interested to discover the mechanism of action of antibiotics, which at
one point were widely used in animal nutrition to promote growth.

"We
found these additives have an effect on the metabolism of the rumen bugs, and
can have a large impact on the how the animals grow, and their productivity," he
said.

Last year growth-promoting antibiotics were banned in the EU, so
farmers had to find new ways to maintain the level of production and remain
competitive. In the US, use of the antibiotics remains legal.

Dr Wallace
said his research was seeking natural alternatives such as plant extracts. The
extracts could help the animals grow better, produce less toxic urine, and
improve the fat content of milk.